Equinor Launches 100 MW Battery Storage Center in Texas
The Citrus Flatts Energy Center marks Equinor's largest US storage project to date, operating on a merchant basis in the ERCOT market.
Equinor has brought the Citrus Flatts Energy Center online in Harlingen, Texas, marking the launch of its largest battery energy storage project in the United States. The facility, which began operations in September 2026, provides critical flexible capacity to the ERCOT power grid as Texas faces surging energy demand.
Located in Cameron County, the center delivers 100 MW of power and 200 MWh of energy storage. The project is operated by East Point Energy, Equinor's US-based battery storage subsidiary, which acquired the facility from Black Mountain Energy Storage in late 2023. Unlike many utility-scale projects that rely on long-term contracts, Citrus Flatts operates on a fully merchant basis within the ERCOT market, with optimization and management handled in collaboration with Danske Commodities.
The Texas Energy Transition
The launch comes during a period of aggressive expansion for renewable infrastructure in Texas. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), battery capacity within the ERCOT region is forecasted to grow from 15 GW in 2025 to 37 GW by the end of 2027. This growth mirrors a massive surge in utility-scale solar, which is expected to generate 78 billion kWh in ERCOT in 2026—a figure that could see solar surpass coal for the first time in the region's history.
Strategic Implications
For Equinor, the project signals a decisive strategic pivot toward the US energy storage market and a willingness to embrace the volatility of merchant operations. By avoiding long-term utility contracts, the company is betting on its ability to optimize energy arbitrage and ancillary services in a deregulated market. Beyond the corporate strategy, the facility provides immediate physical benefits to the regional grid. Andrew Foukal, CEO of East Point Energy, stated that the project will generate millions in tax revenue for local priorities while strengthening the electrical grid to help keep energy costs affordable for businesses and families.
Future Expansion
Equinor is not limiting its storage ambitions to Texas. The company is currently developing four additional battery storage projects in Virginia to serve the PJM market. These projects have a combined capacity of 80 MW/160 MWh and are expected to be operational by early 2027. This multi-regional approach suggests Equinor is positioning itself as a diversified player in the North American grid stability market, leveraging both the ERCOT and PJM landscapes to hedge its energy storage portfolio.